DE202005019859U1 - Automated urinal flush system has water inlet and pump delivering water and ozone - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic urinal rinsing system has a water supply and a pump delivering a water jet from a reservoir together with a cleansing agent e.g. air or ozone. The ozone is generated by an electrical discharge system.

Description

Technical area:

The The invention relates to a flushing system for the purpose of automatic rinsing urinals and the like plumbing Facilities, according to the generic term of claim 1.

It are automatic flushing systems for urinals in which the intended use by suitable Sensors is detected and, if necessary, by a suitable electronic control Switching pulses are given to an electric valve, which the water flow for releases a certain amount of time. It is required that for a flush each a water volume of 1 to 2 liters is triggered.

• • Infrarot-Lichtschranken
• • Infrarot-Reflex-Sensoren
• • Radarsensoren
• • Trittmatten/Bodenkontakte
• • Thermische Sensoren, welche im Siphon des Urinals den bei der Einleitung von (warmem) Urin resultierenden Temperaturanstieg detektieren
• • Feldsensoren, bei denen auf der Rückseite des keramischen Urinalbeckens eine Elektrodenstruktur aufgebracht ist, welche durch geeignete elektronische Ansteuerung ein elektrisches Feld im Raum ausbildet, welches durch bei Benutzung des auf der Oberfläche der dem Nutzer zugewandten Seite und die dabei mit Flüssigkeit (Urin ist mehrheitlich Wasser) benetzte Oberfläche eine Veränderung erfährt, welche zur Gewinnung eines Schaltimpulses in geeigneter Weise ausgenutzt wird.

Sensor systems are known in various technologies, for example in:

• • Infrared light barriers
• • Infrared reflex sensors
• • Radar sensors
• • Floor mats / floor contacts
• • Thermal sensors, which detect in the siphon of the urinal the temperature increase resulting from the introduction of (warm) urine
• Field sensors in which on the back of the ceramic urinal basin an electrode structure is applied, which forms an electric field in the room by suitable electronic control, which by using the on the surface of the user side facing and the case with liquid (urine is majority Water) wetted surface experiences a change, which is exploited to obtain a switching pulse in a suitable manner.

The Supply of electrical energy market known systems takes place either by batteries, which after exhaustion to or from the mains or by means of a turbine with electric generator driven thereby, which is driven by the when flushing effluent water is driven, the electrical energy in an appropriate manner is stored. Electronically, a forced charging of the Energy storage then causes when the charging voltage is a fixed Value falls below.

In the DE 44 10 993 describes a system which detects the use of the urinal by a thermal sensor in the siphon, and which has a turbine / generator located in the water outflow. The device can be operated without batteries and without connection to the mains and is thus low in service. The electrical energy generated by the generator is stored in electrical capacitors of sufficient capacity according to the teachings of this invention. Charging is forced by a forced flush is triggered when falling below a minimum charge with the aim of replenishing the stored amount of energy. Alternatively, it is described that a forced flushing effected for the purpose of energy production takes place at fixed time intervals.

adversely In this system, a relatively complicated commissioning procedure is followed must be, which is known only to trained personnel. The procedure ensures the first charging of the energy storage. at Failure to follow the procedure will prevent the system from working. To the system will always open with Valve supplied, the valve is usually a bistable, of pulses switched valve is. After installation and after opening the Water shut-off flows through the open one Valve water which drives the turbine / generator and electric Energy generated. The electronic control activates and the power storage devices are being charged. This process step takes some Minutes. They are cases been observed where the valve has fallen unintentionally, which makes the commissioning described above impossible.

adversely is further that the thermosensor in the siphon there befindlichem Medium is exposed and that soiling or calcification the thermal sensor encase and thermally isolate, which impairs its function or even picks. Another disadvantage is that activated in very short intervals Measuring the temperature requires a certain amount of electrical energy. The the amount of energy held by the internal power storage is limited, which limits the operating time. Therefore, this system needs time at time a rinse pulse trigger, in order not only to flush the siphon, but also to electric To gain and store energy.

By the EP 0433 631 A1 Also, a turbine with a generator has become known, wherein the generated electrical energy is stored in an accumulator. Also, this invention proposes a forced charging when the charging voltage of the accumulator falls below a predetermined value. The disadvantage is that batteries are in principle less suitable for the task, because the typically very short flush and thus load times of a few seconds ensure sufficient for charging ion transport.

By the DE 100 49 680 Furthermore, a Urinalspülsystem has become known in which the electrical valve is preceded by an assembly which contains a pressure reducer. Advantageous is the water pressure offered to the valve limited to an adjustable value, which is always constant and at 2-4 bar. This protects the valve from excessive water pressure and the amount of water delivered is a strict function of time at constant pressure. Therefore, the amount of water does not have to be adapted to the locally prevailing water pressure. The disadvantage is that the technical complexity is relatively large and that short, steep pressure pulses, such as those that occur in pipeline networks, are not absorbed by the pressure reducer for reasons of reaction inertia.

Around the safety of the flushing system from destruction to ensure the same is sought in the systems described above, all technical components of the electronic flushing system behind the mostly ceramic urinals to install.

Technical problem to be solved:

Becomes the system is supplied from the power grid, is a complex lead and electrical protection necessary. On the other hand, the system turns off supplied with electric batteries, in case of battery replacement the urinal be removed from the wall, which requires considerable effort and high costs. Will the system continue? supplied by a combination of the components "turbine-generator energy storage", is a complicated and fault-prone commissioning procedure necessary and occur when falling below a minimum water pressure instabilities which leads to disturbances to lead can.

Technical task:

Of the Invention is based on the object, the hygienic conditions urinals and the like sanitary facilities to improve and a flushing system to further develop the genus mentioned above.

Technical solution of Invention and its advantages:

The solution The task is a flushing system for the purpose of automatic rinsing of Urinals and the like plumbing Facilities according to said Genus in that in the water outlet of the urinal or the sanitary Device arranged a water jet pump with an intake is, with the aspirator through the intake manifold from a reservoir a cleaning fluid suck in and the rinse water or the water jet pump through the intake manifold air to suck and with the outflowing Water is capable of beading.

In further inventive embodiment of the flushing system the air sucked in through the intake manifold is mixed with ozone, which ozone is produced by electric discharge processes in one of the sucked in air flowed through Reservoir is located.

In Another invention of the flushing system this consists of a central electrical control device, an electrically operated Water valve, a turbine mounted in the water flow with a mechanically connected electrical generator, one in the electrical Control device located electrical energy storage for recording the electrical energy generated by the generator as well as from a Sensor system for determining the use of sanitary engineering Device consists, wherein one in the central electrical control device electronic comparator the charge state of the electrical Energy storage monitors and falls below a specified minimum charge of the electrical Energy storage, the power supply of the flushing system automatically to a additionally existing electric battery or an accumulator switches.

one the fundamental The idea is that in normal operation the control of the plumbing Device is operated by energy, which by the combination from turbine, electric generator, energy storage - where preferably an electrical capacitor of sufficient capacity is used is - won or saved. additionally contains the controller is an electric battery or an accumulator, which / r only switched on when the charge of the energy storage is insufficient. The accumulator can, for example, via a photovoltaic element constantly getting charged.

An electronic circuit thus automatically switches the power supply according to the currently existing operating state, so that the following operating states can be distinguished:
In the case of the first commissioning, this is done with energy from the battery or the accumulator, because the internal energy storage is still uncharged.
In the case of normal use, the internal energy storage system charges up. The operation of the flushing system of the sanitary device is switched from battery operation to energy storage operation. The battery will not be discharged in a row. The life of the battery is limited only by the self-discharge or storage time. In modern batteries or accumulators their life and function can be extended to an order of more than 10 years. In this time no service for the purpose of a battery or Akkumulatorwechsels must be performed.
In case of insufficient water pressures or abge If the system is switched off or if the system is not used for a long time, the system automatically switches to battery or accumulator operation after the internal energy storage has been exhausted. The system remains in the battery or accumulator mode in the safe "stand by", so never comes in indifferent operating conditions. The energy consumption is very low in this state, because in principle the switching pulses for opening / closing the valve are the largest energy consumers, which, however, do not take place in "stand-by mode".

One Advantage of the invention is thus that the flushing system has a redundant power supply that the flushing system for one Series of years, yes many years, independent and self-sufficient and thus maintenance-free and cost-effective power.

In further inventive embodiment is the purge time or the amount of water per rinse with less use of the urinal longer than with frequent use, taking the rinse times as a function of the frequency of use, which for example as use / h or use / day for further processing can be stored automatically within specified limits changed become.

In further inventive embodiment is in a fixed, short time after rinsing, for example after 5 up to 30 seconds or even longer, automatically a second flush triggered with reduced amount of water. When not using the sanitary Device after a specified time, for example after one half a day, one day or several days, a flush can be triggered.

In further inventive embodiment when not in use the sanitary facility the valve is switched on / off several times in a short sequence, in order to be able to function the valve to get full against soiling or caking and to ensure the mechanical mobility of the valve components. The intervals can here also for example one day or several days or also Weeks.

In further inventive embodiment of the flushing system is installed in the water flow, a volume flow constant.

According to the invention is thus arranged in the water outlet a water jet pump with intake. It can through the intake manifold or pump nozzle from a Reservoir a cleaning fluid be sucked, which the rinse water is mixed. Likewise, air can be sucked through the intake manifold and with the outflowing Water bubbles and the rinse water be mixed.

In further inventive embodiment of the flushing system is sucked through the intake, to be bubbled air mixed with ozone, which undergoes electrical discharge processes is located in a flowed through by the intake air reservoir.

Description of the drawing, in the show.

1 a block diagram of all units of the flushing system in the interaction of the same and

2 the timing of the control of the flushing system.

Technical exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept:
The system according to the invention consists of the following main assemblies, which in the 1 are shown.

A water inlet 1 flows into a filter 3 with a flow rate constanter 2 , About a water connector 5 connected to it is a servo valve 4 , preferably an electric pulse-controlled bistable servo valve, following valve 4 called, on which a turbine 6 follows, which in turn is an electric generator 7 drives. To the turbine 6 close a water outlet 8th' with water jet pump 8th and intake manifold 8th'' on, being in the intake manifold 8th'' a backflow preventer 9 is arranged. The water jet pump 8th has a water outlet 10 for the outlet of the water which has passed through the turbine.

A central electrical control device 11 has at least one electric charge storage, for example, a capacitor 11 ' , An electrical connection 12 connects the controller 11 with the valve 4 ; another electrical connection 13 connects the electrical control device 11 with the electric generator 7 , Another electrical connection 14 connects the electrical control device 11 with a sensor system 15 or the electronics of the sensor 15 , With the numeral 16 is a battery as a buffer, backup battery, characterized, which via an electrical connection 16 ' with the electrical control device 11 connected is.

• • Thermo-Sensor im Siphon
• • pH-Sensor im Siphon
• • Infrarot-Reflex-Sensor
• • Radar-Sensor
• • Feldsensor, auf der Rückseite des Urinalbeckens angebracht (nach DE10235937)
• • Strömungssensor im Siphon

The sensor system 15 can be implemented in different technologies, such as:

• • Thermo sensor in the siphon
• • pH sensor in the siphon
• • Infrared reflex sensor
• • Radar sensor
• • Field sensor, mounted on the back of the urinal basin (according to DE10235937)
• • Flow sensor in the siphon

Preference is given to a mounted on the back of the ceramic sanitary facility or Urinalbeckens field sensor in the sense of DE 102 61 238.8 used, because the reliability at the same time highest failure safety is not achieved by other sensor systems. For the purposes of this invention, however, the choice of the sensor system is not critical.

To Installation of the sanitary engineering Equipment or Urinalspülsystems - mostly behind the urinal ceramic - is the system initializes. This can be done by a switch or by inserting a coming from the backup battery electrical Line with a flanged plug or similarly suitable Wise.

To Initialization of the electronic control generates this some Switching pulses to ensure the mechanical mobility of the valve components and moves finally and forcibly move the valve to the "CLOSE" position. The installer can now complete the installation of Urinalkeramik and unlock the water supply.

at Use or when operated the sensor becomes a switching pulse after a reasonable waiting time delivered to the electric water valve: "Valve OPEN".

The water flowing through drives the turbine 6 and with it the generator 7 which generates electrical energy and in a capacitor 11 ' sufficient capacity stores. After the set flushing time, the valve is activated with a switching pulse 4 in the position "closed".

2 shows the timing, timing diagram, the controller. After an adjustable waiting time of z. B. 2 seconds is opened by further switching pulses, the valve for a short time and closed again. This ensures that a small amount of water of, for example, 200 ml fills the siphon even if it should have been emptied by a negative pressure in the water drain piping. This is the area 2.1 the actual purge time, which begins with an UP pulse and is terminated by an IN pulse, which in turn is below the surface 2.1 are shown on a further time axis with mutually reverse direction and with the reference numeral 2.4 are named. After a break 2.2 , which adhere to the rinsing time 2.1 , followed by a rinsing of the time length of the rinsing time 2.3 through on or to pulses, 2.4 , triggered.

An electronic comparator 11 '' within the control device 11 checks the state of charge of the generator 7 charged electrical storage capacitor 11 ' , When the state of charge exceeds a predetermined value, the power supply from the battery is provided by a suitable electronic switch 16 on the storage capacitor 11 ' automatically switched. This condition is reached when, as a result, the urinal has been used several times.

In normal operation, ie when the sanitary facility or the urinal is used about 1 to 3 times a day, the energy supplied by the generator is sufficient for safe operation via the storage capacitor 11 ' out. The battery is therefore not used in normal operation, which has a significant lengthening on the life of the battery.

In the case of insufficient water pressure or in case of temporary shut-off of the water or in case of prolonged disuse of the urinal becomes the storage capacitor 11 ' not loaded. In this case, the electronic switch automatically switches to battery or accumulator operation. This ensures that the urinal system remains functional in any case.

If the water is shut off for a prolonged period or if the urinal is not used for a long time, electric water valves could become trapped by limescale in the water or by other substances. This is inventively counteracted that when not in use of the urinal at appropriate intervals of z. B. at least one day to a week from the electrical control valve 4 is moved at least once by triggering switching pulses. This is a "gluing" of the moving mechanical components of the valve 4 avoided and the mechanical mobility of the valve components ensured. As a positive side effect - if there is water pressure - the siphon is filled with water and drying out of the siphon thus avoided.

Out establish the economy, it makes sense, the amount of water per rinse the frequency of use adapt. If the urinal is used relatively seldom, is in the Interest in a sufficient flushing a relatively long flushing time with relatively large Amount of water important. If the urinal is used very often, the purge be reduced to a time which is the safe renewal of in the siphon standing liquid and ensures a safe wetting of the surface of Urinalkeramik.

According to the urinal control therefore automatically changes the flushing time as a function of the frequency of use, the frequency of use within the control device for Weiterverarbei tion can be stored, use / h or use / day.

To Initialization will trigger a relatively long purge time when used first Flush system for the first time safely. Following this, the minimum rinse time will automatically set.

The purge extended automatically if the urinal system is not used by after Periods of non-use, respectively, the rinsing time is automatically extended, for example, depending on the use / h or use / day can happen.

The longest purge can be fixed by an internal adjustment to a freely definable Value be limited. This is advantageous in frequently used Urinals more than halved the water consumption without having to Urine scale deposits could damage the drainage system or without that in the sense of hygiene questionable conditions could occur. at rarely used urinals is achieved by this invention that through vigorous flushing the urinal system minimizes the risk of deposits.

In the outlet of the urinal flushing system is in accordance with the 1 , a water jet pump 8th arranged. In the case of flowing water arises at an intake 8th'' a negative pressure. At the intake manifold 8th'' can optionally be a reservoir 17 be connected with a liquid which is added to the rinse water and which supports the cleaning of the urinal and / or has a disinfecting effect.

Advantageous is that the metered addition of this cleaning fluid into the rinse water without further installation or pumping mechanisms always in the case of Rinsing takes place.

alternative Air can be sucked in and beaded very finely and the rinsing water, the turbine wastewater, to be mixed. The air enriched dishwater has a better wetting effect on the surfaces of the Urinalkeramik and therefore allows relatively small amounts of water ever rinse, without this having a negative impact on urinal hygiene.

In addition, the over the intake manifold 8th'' sucked in air enriched with ozone. Ozone is generated by electrical discharges in a discharge vessel - for example, the reservoir 17 - Generated, which is flowed through by the sucked air. Ozone is water soluble and extremely bactericidal and biocidal. Without having to refill any chemicals, it is achieved with this inventive proposal that the surfaces of the urinal and the siphon are always hygienic.

From DE 100449680 known and mentioned assembly "pressure reducer" can be replaced by a volumetric flow controller, if the design of the water technical system follows the rules of DIN 1988 and pressures of an average of 6 bar are maintained. Freely available on the market, small flow regulators also regulate the flow of water, so that the same opening times of the valve result in the same amounts of water.

Industrial Applicability.

The Invention is particularly for sanitary-engineering Facilities, such as urinals, or other sanitary facilities, such as toilets, commercially applicable. It can be executed in different variations that are common is that the

operating power both of batteries and of the located in an electrical energy storage and the effluent during rinsing water generated by a turbine with a connected electric generator is, with sufficient charge of the energy storage by a electrical circuit the battery is switched off electrically and therefore in case of sufficient charge of the energy storage no Consumption of stored energy in the battery takes place.

1

water supply

2

Flow Constant

3

filter

4

electrical pulse controlled bistable servo valve

5

Water Connector

6

turbine

7

electrical generator

8th

Water jet pump

8th'

water spout

8th''

intake

9

Backflow preventer

10

water spout

11

headquarters electrical control device with

11 '

electrical Charge storage such as capacitor

11 ''

electronic comparator

12

electrical Connection between valve and control device

13

electrical Connection between generator and control device

14

electrical Connection between control device and

sensor electronics

15

Sensor system or sensor with sensor electronics

16

Backup battery, with electrical connection to the control device

17

reservoir for either a cleaning fluid or ozone

Claims (8)

Flushing system for the purpose of automatic flushing of urinals and similar sanitary equipment, characterized in that in the water outlet ( 8th' ) of the urinal or the sanitary facility, a water jet pump ( 8th ) with an intake manifold ( 8th'' ), wherein the water jet pump ( 8th ) through the intake manifold ( 8th'' ) from a reservoir ( 17 ) to suck in a cleaning liquid and to add it to the rinsing water or the water jet pump ( 8th ) through the intake manifold ( 8th'' ) To suck in air and to be able to bead it with the outflowing water. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized in that through the intake manifold ( 8th'' ) is admixed with ozone, which ozone is produced by electric discharge processes in a reservoir through which the intake air flows ( 17 ) is located. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a central electrical control device ( 11 ), an electrically operated water valve ( 4 ), a turbine mounted in the water flow ( 6 ) with a mechanically connected electrical generator ( 7 ), one in the electrical control device ( 11 ) located electrical energy storage ( 11 ' ) for receiving the generator ( 7 ) and a sensor system ( 15 ) for determining the use of the sanitary device, wherein a in the central electrical control device ( 11 ) located electronic comparator ( 11 '' ) the charge state of the electrical energy store ( 11 ' ) and falls below a specified minimum charge of the electrical energy storage ( 11 ' ) the power supply of the flushing system automatically to an additionally existing electric battery ( 16 ) or switches an accumulator. flushing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the rinsing time or the amount of water per rinse with low use of the sanitary engineering Setup longer is considered frequent use and that the flushing times as a function of the frequency of use automatically changed within specified limits. flushing system according to claim 3, characterized in that in fixed, short Time after flushing automatically a second flush is triggered with a reduced amount of water. flushing system according to claim 3, characterized in that when not in use plumbing Device after a specified time a flush is triggered. Flushing system according to claim 3, characterized in that when not in use the sanitary device, the valve ( 4 ) is switched on / off several times in a short sequence. flushing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the water flow, a volume flow constant is installed.